The recent Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine given to Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros raised awareness of microRNA. Since their early 1990s discovery, these small molecules have fundamentally changed our understanding of cellular development and gene control. Here is all you need to know about what microRNA is, its role in the body, and why its discovery was a game-changer for science.
What exactly is microRNA?
MicroRNA, more commonly abbreviated as miRNA, is a small molecule which is made up of RNA, typically about 20-25 nucleotides long.Protein coding is not done by miRNA, in contrast to messenger RNA (mRNA), which contains instructions for assembling proteins. Rather, it is important in controlling the expression of certain genes. To make sure that the correct genes are active at the appropriate times in each cell, consider miRNA as a “switch” that can turn genes on or off.
Because different cell types—such as muscle and nerve cells—display distinct traits despite sharing the same genetic code, this regulation is crucial. MicroRNA is essential for preserving regular cellular processes and development because it helps regulate gene activity.
UMass Chan Medical School Professor Victor Ambros, left, and Harvard Medical School professor and an investigator at the Massachusetts General Hospital Gary Ruvkun, right, winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of microRNA and its role in gene regulation, celebrate their collaboration in the University of Massachusetts Office of the President in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. October 7, 2024. REUTERS/Ken McGagh
Role of microRNA in gene regulation
The process of gene expression involves several steps where the genetic information from DNA is transcribed into mRNA and then translated into proteins. MicroRNA acts primarily at the post-transcriptional level, meaning it affects mRNA after it has been made from DNA.
MicroRNA binds to complementary sequences on target mRNA molecules, preventing or degrading them, resulting in reduced protein production. This system controls the number of specific proteins in a cell in response to changes in the body or environment. It functions similarly to a built-in quality control system, ensuring that cells perform properly.
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How the discovery revolutionized our understanding of biology
Before Ambros and Ruvkun’s discovery, scientists were puzzled by how cells with identical genetic information could behave so differently. The identification of miRNA explained: these small molecules enable cells to regulate gene expression precisely.
Their research, which began with small roundworms, discovered that particular miRNAs might suppress genes important in developmental timing. This discovery led to the recognition that miRNA-based regulation is a fundamental concept shared by multicellular creatures, including humans. Understanding miRNA’s role in gene regulation opens the stage for further research into its impact on health and disease.
